I have been around long enough to see wave after wave of new diets.
Zone. Atkins. Weight Watchers. Low fat. Paleo. Vegetarianism. Low carb. And on and on and on.
Not all of those diets are bad. In fact, many are quite good, especially the ones that help control appetite, improve food quality, and raise nutrition awareness. However, in reality, they're all still diets and competing with each other. They're all essentially saying the same thing: "My way is better than your way."
You're either gonna eat low carbs and high protein (or all raw veggies and no meat, or whatever)...or you're never gonna get in shape. But here's the thing everyone seems to be missing: There is absolutely no "best diet" that every person should follow.
Why there isn't a "best diet."
Each of my client, unique in every way possible
Body type: Clients can be tall and thin, curvy, pear-shaped.
Dietary preferences & exclusions: Some clients enjoy eating lots of meat every day. Some enjoy rice over bread, milk over curd and the list goes on.
Goals: While many of my clients have specific goals, lose weight, get fit for the next trek in the Himalayas, few come to gain optimum health with
Budget: Some clients with an incredibly low budget, while others with with an unlimited budget.
Age: Some of my clients start young, while many come when there is alarm in lifestyle disorders such as PCODs, fatty liver and so on
Relationship to food: Some are emotional eaters who tend to overeat when they're stressed or alone. Others tend to undereat when they're stressed.
Organic / conventional: Some clients are used to eating ready to eat packaged foods and have no idea how to cook. Others enjoy eating only natural, organic, whole foods.
Nutrition knowledge: Some of my clients are followers of certain dietary practice. Others come with very little nutrition knowledge whatsoever.
Time: Some clients come with lots of free time for a health and fitness project. Others come with very little time to devote to health and fitness. Young mothers and traveling professionals
You get the picture.
So, how can one nutrition plan or even the popular diets cater to all? There's simply no way to help all those people eat better and get healthier if you're militant about a single diet or nutrition paradigm.
In my three years of practicing nutrition and wellness coaching, the joy of working with real people, tailor making diet and exercise plans and nudging them closer to goals and then watching them take control of their own health has been gratifying. The continuous 1:1 sessions, listening to what worked and what dint and customizing it to monitor for the next week is encouraging. Lots of people have ideas on that, of course. I'm one of them. Though my ideas is to keep it simple.